Showing papers by "Karen Francis published in 2002"

All in the same boat: an investigation into the effects of a carers' support group

Abstract: This study examined the effects of a support group for carers whose relatives were residents of a Sydney nursing home. The meetings were organised by the principal author of this paper, held regularly on the premises of the nursing home, and each meeting was facilitated by a counsellor. The support group was designed to help the carers cope with the feelings of guilt and sadness they experienced when their relative was placed in a nursing home. Phenomenology informed the methodology used in this study, and the data was collected by in-depth interviews. The Carer's Support Group was found to be beneficial for the carers and six major themes were identified. (author abstract)

Revisiting the past: the association for Australian rural nurses comes of age.

Abstract: It is timely for the Association for Australian Rural Nurses to review its achievements since the inauguration of the association in 1992. Undoubtedly the 1990s will be remembered as the period during which rural health and rural issues first gained a significant and much needed profile generated within political discourse. The launch of the Australian Journal of Rural Health in 1992 provided both an impetus and an outlet for debate on rural health issues and helped to focus national attention on the plight of rural communities.1 The new Journal's first issue highlighted that ‘rural areas have been shown to be a neglected concern and comparatively disadvantaged with respect to the provision of health services.’2 Moreover, its contents highlighted the significance of the thorny question of ‘when does urban become rural?’ and the need for further research to ‘determine the extent to which there exists a rural‐urban differential in health status.’3